Wood returns to Irish captaincy
January 26, 2000

Keith Wood has been re-appointed Ireland's captain for the inaugural Six Nations Championship.

Wood, 28 this week and with 31 international caps and three for the British Lions to his credit, has led Ireland on nine previous occasions. But he has yet to captain a winning team and was replaced as captain first by Paddy Johns and then by Dion O'Cuinneagain who continued in charge until Ireland's World Cup campaign when a damaged shoulder began to trouble him.

Following today's announcement from team manager Donal Lenihan, a delighted Wood said: "I hadn't thought about it at all. Dion and I have discussed the situation, just like we did when he took over from me in South Africa and now we are simply dying to get out and get going in the championship.

``We didn't do ourselves justice in the World Cup,'' added the fearless hooker. But Munster's good run in the Heineken Cup has given me a great personal boost, and like the other guys involved I've put the post-World Cup blues well and truly behind me.'' O'Cuinneagain's fitness remains a worry, meanwhile, especially for the England match on Saturday week at Twickenham.

Lenihan expects to name a reduced squad and Ireland A team on Thursday and added that the starting XV for Twickenham will be announced in Dublin next Tuesday.

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